This post was updated Sept. 12 at 3:20 p.m.

Coach Bob Chesney’s Rose Bowl debut is nearing, as UCLA football (1-0) prepares to face SDSU (1-0) Saturday afternoon on home soil. The Bruins opened the year with a 21-point road victory over former conference rival California, and will now match up against one of the Pac-12’s newest teams. Here are the game predictions from Sports editor Jacob Nguyen, assistant Sports editor Steven Chaparyan and Sports contributor Zach King, along with a guest prediction from Opinion editor Sara Green.

Jacob Nguyen
Sports editor
Prediction: UCLA 34, SDSU 17

I was confident that Week One was going to be a shootout in Pac-12 After Dark.

And in all fairness to Cal, it was until the fourth quarter when senior defensive back Ta’Shawn James caught his first two career collegiate interceptions on back-to-back defensive possessions – effectively setting the Bruins up to trounce the Golden Bears with three rushing touchdowns in the final quarter.

Boy, oh boy, is that ground game something.

From the gritty offensive line to senior quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s dual-threat ability to what I’d personally like to coin as the Bruins’ “Cerberus-themed running back room,” UCLA will win its games in hard-fought battles in the trenches.

It’ll surely help when its next opponent is one that lost a flurry of defensive starters and rotational pieces, including all but one player who recorded at least one sack in 2025.

While I expect that three-headed dog to keep barking, it’s just a matter of who decides to actually bite. Last week it was fifth-year running back Wayne Knight with a game-high three touchdowns. This week it is entirely up to a coin flip. And that’s the beauty of this new UCLA squad.

I’ll give credit where credit is due: SDSU put up 53 points in its opening victory while returning running back Lucky Sutton, who ran for nearly 1,300 yards last season. But when you consider that the 33-point advantage was over an FCS school that swapped quarterbacks a week into the season, it pales in comparison to the challenge many anticipated Cal to be.

Outside of the run game, the Aztecs don’t have much that is immediately frightening on either side of the ball. So as Chesney makes his first mark in Pasadena, it’s nothing but momentum on the Bruins’ side.

New players are slowly getting integrated. Schemes are being executed. And most importantly, the vibes are up – with an excitement I don’t think I’ve ever seen in my time as a UCLA student.

Steven Chaparyan
Assistant Sports editor
Prediction: UCLA 37, SDSU 17

I was skeptical heading into last weekend’s season opener.

I said I was convinced by the talent of the new-look Bruins “as of now.”

But as fifth-year running back Anthony Woods broke free for a 53-yard house call that put an exclamation mark on a three-score victory, all that skepticism disappeared.

I’ve since learned my lesson, which is why I see Chesney’s squad – like Woods – running away with this one.

The ground game in Berkeley was a sight for sore eyes to the Bruin faithful. Woods and Knight combined for five of UCLA’s six touchdowns, doing it all on just 16 combined carries.

While the Aztecs gave up just 95 rushing yards in their 33-point Week One victory, they did so in the comfort of their home stadium against a Portland State squad that went 1-11 last season.

But the Bruins and the road stadium – the “Granddaddy of Them All” – will be more than a step up from the season opener for coach Sean Lewis’ squad.

I have every reason to believe UCLA will hold its own.

The linebacker duo of senior Sammy Omosigho and fifth-year Jalen Woods tallied 25 total tackles, including 2.5 for loss alongside one sack.

The secondary had Cal signal caller Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in a bind, with James coming up with two interceptions and senior defensive back DJ Barksdale adding a sack of his own.

And when it mattered most, with the scoreboard tied at 24 heading into the final stanza, the Bruins congregated on the field to “swag surf” before adding three touchdowns and completing a shutout in the frame.

I saw heart in this team last weekend that I didn’t see all of last season.

It was the kind of heart that wins football games.

Zach King
Sports contributor
Prediction: UCLA 38, SDSU 21

“Rocks tumbling down a mountain in a landslide” has recently been my favorite description of how college football teams tumultuously navigate the chaos of the college football season.

Some rocks start big, while others start small. Some rocks gain speed as they head down the mountain; some slow to heartbreaking halts. Some fly off trees, some get stuck in divots and – most spectacularly – some rocks crash head-on into each other.

Momentum is key.

And there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Chesney is going to keep this blue-and-gold rock rolling into conference play. Even more impactful is getting to face a red-and-black rock that mirrors UCLA’s run performance – albeit against less formidable opposition.

SDSU ran for 237 total yards in its 53-20 season-opening win against FCS Portland State – utilizing four backs who each ran for 30-plus yards and controlled the ground battle by a 237-95 margin.

That performance deserves respect – as does an Aztec team that went 9-4 last year and returns seven of 11 offensive starters – but UCLA’s defensive front just held Cal to 119 rushing yards on 40 attempts and forced the Golden Bears to lean heavily on the pass in crunch time.

If the Aztecs want to repeat their opening-week formula, they will have to do it against a substantially sturdier team.

The rock that sits squarely in the middle of UCLA’s defense is Omosigho, who exploded for 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble against Cal. With an SDSU offense that will try every way it can to establish ground dominance, Omosigho and company have already showcased an ability to diagnose runs and close space before opposing offenses can find their rhythm.

While a 9-4 2025 record is glamorous, what’s a bit uglier is returning less than half of the defensive production that carried the Aztecs up the mountain last year.

That gap will be rushed into by a UCLA offense that has already proven it can produce in several different ways. The Bruins rushed for 277 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 8.7 yards per carry against Cal, notably employing their own three-back room, including Woods, who broke 100 yards, and Knight, who found the end zone three times.

Iamaleava added 184 yards through the air behind an offensive line that consistently gave the offense room to develop and excel where it mattered most. And facing an SDSU defense that surrendered 280 passing yards last week, don’t be surprised when Iamaleava has numerous opportunities to showcase the arm strength and touch he did last Saturday in Berkeley.

SDSU may not be coming to Pasadena to see the stars, but in the words of Blair Waldorf, the Bruins aren’t a stop – they’re a destination.

Expect UCLA to roll on through.

Sara Green
Opinion editor
Prediction: UCLA 34, SDSU 24

Same city. Same stadium. Completely new odds.

This Saturday, during UCLA’s return to the Rose Bowl, SDSU will play competitively. But the Bruins will play better.

I’m not the most well-versed football fan. Most of my time at games is spent asking my dad why the crowd is cheering.

However, Chesney’s coaching strategy and an off-season full of notable transfers have caught even my attention.

The team, which finished 3-9 last season, had lost the interest of many fans like myself – tired of clambering onto the Rooter Bus, disappointed. The Bruins now deliver fresh, invigorating excitement, flying into the 2026 season with a promising start.

Knight, Anthony Woods and Iamaleava, who starred in last week’s game versus Cal, will be standout players against SDSU. The team’s demonstrated ability to execute focused offense will be an invaluable asset.

The Bruins will have the upper hand on home turf, fueled by the familiarity of the Rose Bowl. Coming off a 45-24 win against the Golden Bears last week, high spirits will not only pulse through the crowd but also motivate the players.

Although I can’t make out the details of every game, even I will walk away on Saturday knowing the Bruins carry great promise for the coming season.